ROYAL SOVEREIGN-Class battleship ordered under
the 1913 Build Programme from William Beardmore at Dalmuir, Glasgow and laid down on 12th November 1913. She
was launched on 12th September 1916 and was the 5th RN ship to carry this name.
It had been introduced in 1706 to commemorate the victory of the Duke of
Marlborough and given to a 2nd Rate, which was wrecked in 1760. The previous RAMILLIES was a battleship sold in 1913. Build was completed in October 1917
and the ship continued in full commission during the post WW1 years. This ship
is not recorded as having been adopted by a civil community as a result of a
WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign during 1941-42.

5th - Sailed from
Portland in company with destroyers EXMOUTH and ESCAPADE to join the escort of
convoy GC1. (Convoy GC.1 consisted of 11 passenger liners that sailed from the
Clyde on 5/9/39)

6th - Destroyers
ECLIPSE and ENCOUNTER joined from Plymouth.

At 1845 hours NW of the Scilly
Isles, RAMILLIES, ECLIPSE, ENCOUNTER, ESCAPADE and EXMOUTH joined destroyers
VERITY, VOLUNTEER, WITHERINGTON and WOLVERINE escorting convoy GC1, following
which the local escort of destroyers VIVACIOUS, VANESSA, VANQUISHER and WAKEFUL
detached and returned to the Clyde.

8th - Destroyers
VERITY, VOLUNTEER, WITHERINGTON and WOLVERINE detached and returned to Plymouth.

10th - At 1100
hours 350 miles west of Gibraltar the French destroyers FS FORTUNE, RAILLEUSE
and SIMOUN joined from Gibraltar.

11th - At 1300
hours GC1, less the liner SS SCYTHIA, arrived at Gibraltar followed later by
RAMILLIES and FORTUNE. RAMILLIES Joined the Mediterranean Fleet.

October

3rd - Sailed from
Gibraltar in company with cruiser
CAPETOWN, and
destroyers KEPPEL and WATCHMAN to join the liner SS ATHLONE CASTLE and escort
her to Freetown. After leaving harbour, RAMILLIES suffered condenser problems
and returned to Gibraltar with the destroyers.

5th - Ordered to
join the North Atlantic Escort Force.

At 1215 hours sailed from Gibraltar for
the UK escorted by destroyers WISHART and VORTIGERN.

6th - At 2233 hours
she was recalled to Gibraltar to replace battleship
MALAYA, which

was due to leave
the Mediterranean.

8th - Arrived back
at Gibraltar with WISHART and VORTIGERN.

15th - Sailed from
Gibraltar to join the 1st Battle Squadron at Alexandria escorted by destroyers
GRAFTON and GALLANT. (The destroyers had arrived from Alexandria on 14/10/39)

17th - Destroyer
DUNCAN detached from convoy Blue 4 and joined RAMILLIES, following which GRAFTON
and GALLANT detached for Malta.

18th - Destroyers
DAINTY and DEFENDER joined for Malta and DUNCAN detached.

20th - Arrived at
Alexandria.

25th - Sailed from
Alexandria escorted by destroyers DAINTY, DIANA and DEFENDER for a 15-inch gun
shoot, with the Queen Bee target operated from cruiser
PENELOPE.

27th - Sailed from
Alexandria escorted by destroyers DIANA and DEFENDER for a 15-inch gun shoot,
with the Queen Bee target again operated from cruiser
PENELOPE.

November

Transferred to
Indian Ocean for trade defence.

11th - Sailed from
Port Said escorted by destroyer DELIGHT to relieve battleship
MALAYA and
destroyer DARING off Aden.

16th - Arrived at
Aden and after refuelling, joined battleship MALAYA and destroyer DELIGHT at sea
of Socotra.

Carried out search
for German ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE

18th - At Aden with
MALAYA, aircraft carrier GLORIOUS, BULLDOG, DARING and DELIGHT, where they were
designated Force J. (Note: On 15/11/39 the ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE had sunk the
British merchant SS AFRICA SHELL off Lorenco Marques and on 16/11/39 west of
Durban stopped the Dutch merchant MV MAPIA. When the CinC East Indies received
this news he immediately formed hunting groups to search for the raider in the
Indian Ocean, Force J being one. However following the interception of the MAPIA,
GRAF SPEE moved back into the Atlantic). Force J continued anti raider patrols
in the Gulf of Aden.

December

Indian Ocean trade
defence duty in continuation.

Passage to New
Zealand for escort of military troop convoy. This followed a visit to London by
the New Zealand Prime Minster, the Hon. P. Frazer, who insisted that RAMILLIES
must be made available to escort the New Zealand First Echelon of troops from
Wellington. (The Admiralty had intended that HMNZS LEANDER would be the only
escort for the troop convoy from Wellington to Sydney)

20th - Arrived at
Fremantle.

25th - Arrived at
Melbourne.

31st - Arrived at
Wellington.

1 9 4 0

January

5th - At
Wellington, New Zealand on the eve of the departure of the first echelon of New
Zealand troops to the Middle East. RAMILLIES flew a banner ‘Well done the
ACHILLES’. (This was in recognition of ACHILLES part in the destruction of GRAF
SPEE)

6th - At 0600 hours
sailed from Wellington in company with cruiser HMAS CANBERRA as escort for
military troop convoy US1, comprising the troopships ORION, STRATHAIRD, EMPRESS
of CANADA and RANGITATA, carrying 4000 North Island troops.

At 1000 hours in the
Cook Strait, cruiser HMNZS LEANDER joined US1 with two further troop transports,
DUNERA and SOBIESKI with 2500 South Island troops.

1st - Sailed from
Colombo in company with aircraft carrier EAGLE and cruiser SUSSEX escorting
convoy US.1. At Colombo the convoy had been joined by the French mercantiles
ATHOS 2 and MESSAGERIES MARITIME.

2nd - At 1000 hours
cruiser HMAS HOBART joined convoy US1.

6th - At 1900 hours
arrived at Aden with convoy US1. (At Aden convoy US.1 split into two. The first
section sailed on 7/1/40 escorted by HOBART and SUSSEX. The second section
sailed on 8/1/40 escorted by SUSSEX and destroyer WESTCOTT) (Note: RAMILLIES
reported that the very large distances steamed, sometimes at high speed, were
straining her boilers, machinery and engine-room personnel. Further to this
report and discussions with the New Zealand Government, who wanted RAMILLIES, or
another battleship to escort the second echelon of NZ troops; the Admiralty
compromised by deciding to send RAMILLIES for a short refit at Sydney; following
which she would escort the troop convoy from Sydney.)

15th - Sailed from
Aden for Colombo.

21st - Arrived at
Colombo.

23rd - HOBART
arrived at Colombo with 8 midshipmen for RAMILLIES, embarked at Aden on 17/2/40;
one of the midshipmen was the future HRH Duke of Edinburgh.

15th - Off
Melbourne in company with cruiser HMAS SYDNEY, took over the escort of troop
convoy US2, comprising the troop ships DUNERA, ETTRICK, NEURALIA and STRATHAIRD
with 5700 troops embarked, from cruiser HMAS ADELAIDE, which then detached to
Melbourne.

21st - Arrived at
Fremantle with convoy US2. After refueling, sailed with convoy US2, the
troopship NEVASA with 1200 troops embarked, joined the convoy. (Aircraft carrier
EAGLE was to have been deployed as part of the escort from Fremantle but
suffered an on board accident on 12/3/40 and had to be docked at Singapore)

28th - SYDNEY
detached to return to Fremantle.

May

3rd - Arrived at
Colombo with convoy US2.

5th - Sailed from
Colombo in company with cruiser KENT and French cruiser FS SUFFREN.

11th - Destroyers
DECOY and DEFENDER joined convoy US2; they had departed Aden at 1700/10/5/40.

12th - Arrived at
Aden with convoy US2.

13th - Sailed from
Aden in company with KENT, SUFFREN, DECOY and DEFENDER escorting convoy US2.

15th - In Red Sea
joined by cruiser LIVERPOOL and sloop SHOREHAM.

17th - Arrived at
Suez with convoy US2.

23rd - Arrived at
Alexandria. On arrival at Alexandria taken in hand for refit in floating dock.

June

11th - Refit
suspended after Italy entered the war.

28th - Sailed from
Alexandria as Force B in company with battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN aircraft
carrier EAGLE and destroyers HAVOCK, HASTY, HERO, HEREWARD, HYPERION, JUNO,
JANUS of the 2nd DF, to cover the passage of convoy AS1. (The force was also to
provide cover for Operation MA 3, the passage of convoys MF1 and MS1 from Malta)

July

2nd - Returned to
Alexandria with Fleet units. (Note: The passage of MF1 and MS1 was postponed on
28th June because of the prodigious expenditure of 6in ammunition by Vice
Admiral Tovey’s 7th CS when sinking the Italian destroyer ESPERO)

13th - Sailed from
Alexandria escorted by destroyers DIAMOND, HAVOCK, IMPERIAL and HMAS VENDETTA.
Later in the day they RVed with convoy MS1 (which had sailed from Malta early on
10/7/40) escorted by cruisers CALEDON and CAPETOWN, and destroyers DECOY and
HMAS VAMPIRE and VOYAGER.

27th - At 0300
hours sailed from Alexandria in company with battleships WARSPITE and MALAYA,
aircraft carrier EAGLE escorted by destroyers DECOY, HEREWARD, HERO, HYPERION,
ILEX, IMPERIAL, JERVIS, JUNO, NUBIAN and MOHAWK to cover the passage of convoy
AS2/1. South of Crete the fleet was joined by cruisers NEPTUNE and HMAS SYDNEY.

28th - The fleet
divided. South of the Kithera Strait convoy AS2/1 escorted by cruisers CAPETOWN
and LIVERPOOL and destroyers DAINTY, DEFENDER, DIAMOND and HMAS STUART were met
by the covering Force of MALAYA, RAMILLIES, EAGLE, HEREWARD, HERO, JERVIS, JUNO,
MOHAWK and NUBIAN

30th - Arrived back
at Alexandria. (Convoy then proceeded to Port Said escorted by cruiser CAPETOWN
and destroyers DAINTY and DIAMOND)

31st - At 1420
hours sailed from Alexandria in company with battleship MALAYA, aircraft carrier
EAGLE escorted by destroyers HASTY, HEREWARD, HERO, HOSTILE, ILEX, IMPERIAL,
JERVIS and HMAS VENDETTA to carry out gunnery practice. Following this, they
were designated Force B for (Operation HURRY) and were to sail west towards
Gavdo Island. However when MALAYA developed problems with salt water in her
condensers the whole of Force B returned to Alexandria.

9th - At 0254 hours
the fleet was joined at sea by cruiser LIVERPOOL and destroyer DIAMOND.

10th - At 1715
hours RAMILLIES, HASTY, HEREWARD, HERO, HYPERION, ILEX and NUBIAN detached from
the Fleet to refuel at Malta. At intervals through the day and during the 11th
the various units of the Fleet detached to refuel in Malta.

11th - At 1105
hours IMPERIAL was mined and badly damaged, she was towed into Malta by DECOY.

At 1600 hours convoy MF3 arrived at Malta in company with ORION, STUART and
VENDETTA. At this time the main body of the Mediterranean Fleet was 100 miles
south east of Malta, where it was sighted and reported by an Italian civil
airliner.

At 2245 hours convoy ME4, which included River Gunboat APHIS, sailed
from Malta escorted by cruisers CALCUTTA and COVENTRY and destroyers WRYNECK and HMAS WATERHEN. Late in the evening following the return of all the refuelled
units, the Fleet turned for Alexandria. (To the north east of Malta positioned
in anticipation that a convoy would be sailing from Malta were 4 Italian
destroyers, 3 torpedo boats and 4 MAS boats)

12th - During
return passage to Alexandria, at 0200 hours, 125 miles west of Malta, and about
70 miles north of the convoy, the 3 Italian torpedo boats launched torpedo
attacks on the northernmost unit of the Fleet, which was AJAX, all of which
missed. However AJAX, after initial confusion, opened fire on the attackers at
4000 yards sinking ARIEL and ARIONE. In return AJAX received 3 hits from AIRONE.
(AJAX was equipped with type 279 radar which was a long range air search set and
of little use in a surface engagement). Immediately the 4 Italian destroyers
came to the aid of the torpedo boats and at 0230 hours ARTIGLIERE launched a
torpedo attack which AJAX avoided. AJAX managed to damage the AVIERE and
severely damage the ARTIGLIERE. In return ARTIGLIERE hit AJAX 4 times, putting
her radar out of action and damaging a twin 4in mount. At the time of the second
engagement the moon had set and the lack of flashless powder caused problems for
AJAX’s gunners.

At 0235 hours when the Italian destroyers withdrew behind a
smoke screen AJAX broke off the action since Capt. McCarthy believed that he had
been in action against 4 destroyers and 2 cruisers. (This action is known by the
Italians as the Battle of Cape Passero) The gunfire drew other cruisers of the
Mediterranean Fleet to the scene, but they arrived too late to see action.

13th - At dawn the
damaged ARTIGLIERE under tow by the destroyer CAMICIA NERE, was sighted 107
miles west of Malta by a Sunderland. The Sunderland’s sighting report resulted
in an air strike by Swordfish from ILLUSTRIOUS, without result. Also YORK, AJAX
and 4 destroyers were despatched from the fleet and arrived at the position at
0900 hours. CAMICIA NERE slipped the tow a made off and YORK finished off the
ARTIGLIERE.

At 1100 hours south east of Gavdos Island, convoy ME 4 was joined by
convoy AS4 that had sailed from Piraeus. In the evening the Fleet divided and
ILLUSTRIOUS, GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HERO and NUBIAN headed
into the Aegean.

14th - Early in the
morning Swordfish from ILLUSTRIOUS carried out an air strike on the airfield on
the Island of Leros.

At 0840 hours the ILLUSTRIOUS Force rejoined the main body
of the Fleet and the combined Fleet then set course for Alexandria. In the
evening the Fleet came under air attack, and at 1845 hours 70 miles SE of Crete,
LIVERPOOL sustained an aerial torpedo hit in the starboard bow, delivered by an
Italian torpedo aircraft.

At 1920 hours the petrol storage compartment exploded,
blowing the roof off A turret roof, the port gun fell into the sea and a fire
was started. DECOY and HEREWARD stood by.

At 2230 hours ORION took her in tow,
towing her backwards at 9.5 knots towards Alexandria escorted by DAINTY, DECOY,
DIAMOND and VAMPIRE.

15th - At 0100
hours the Mediterranean Fleet arrived back at Alexandria.

25th - Sailed from
Alexandria in company with aircraft carrier EAGLE, cruiser COVENTRY, escorted by
destroyers JANUS, MOHAWK, WRYNECK and HMAS VAMPIRE and VOYAGER on Operation MAQ
2. Operation MAQ 2 was an operation to cover Port Said-to-Piraeus convoy AN5 and
carry out an air attack on Rhodes in the Dodecanese)

26th - The Fleet
sailed to the southern end of the Kasos Strait.

27th - Swordfish
from EAGLE carried out an air strike on the airfield at Maritza on the Island of
Rhodes.

28th - Arrived back
at Alexandria.

29th - At 0130
hours sailed from Alexandria in company with battleships WARSPITE, VALIANT and
MALAYA, aircraft carriers ILLUSTRIOUS and EAGLE escorted by destroyers DAINTY,
DECOY, DEFENDER, DIAMOND, HASTY, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HERO, HYPERION, ILEX, JANUS,
JERVIS, JUNO, MOHAWK and NUBIAN. The Fleet sailed towards the west of Crete on
Operation CHURCH. (Following Italy’s attack on Greece on 28/10/40 the Greek
Government invited Britain to set up a base at Suda Bay on the north coast of
Crete. Operation CHURCH was the operation covering the military convoys carrying
personnel and stores to Suda Bay). Late in the evening, south of Crete, cruisers
YORK, GLOUCESTER, ORION and HMAS SYDNEY joined the Fleet.

30th - The Fleet
continued to sail northwest and at 2000 hours the Fleet was 126 miles west of
Cape Matapan.

31st - At 1630
hours 75 miles west south west of Cape Matapan, WARSPITE, ILLUSTRIOUS, YORK,
GLOUCESTER, HASTY, HEREWARD, HERO, ILEX and JERVIS detached from the Fleet and
proceeded towards Alexandria. The rest of the Fleet remained cruising to the
west of Crete.

November

2nd - Arrived back
at Alexandria.

6th - Sailed from
Alexandria in company with battleships WARSPITE ,VALIANT and MALAYA, aircraft
carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, cruisers YORK and GLOUCESTER, destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER,
HASTY, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HERO, HYPERION, ILEX, JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO and MOHAWK on
Operation MB 8 and Operation COAT. Later the Fleet was joined by cruisers AJAX
and HMAS SYDNEY from Suda Bay. (Operation MB 8 was to provide cover for the
passage of Convoy MW3 [sailed from Alexandria on 5/11/40] to Malta and Convoy
AN6 [sailed from Port Said on 4/11/40] to the Aegean. Operation COAT was the
passage of reinforcements for the Mediterranean Fleet).

7th - Covered the
passage of convoy AN 6 and MW 3. The two convoys proceeded together from off
Alexandria towards west Crete. (Operation MB 8).

9th - In the
evening RAMILLIES, HAVOCK, HYPERION and ILEX detached for Malta to refuel.

10th - The
Mediterranean Fleet cruised to the south east of Malta.

At 1015 hours Force F,
comprising battleship BARHAM, cruisers BERWICK and GLASGOW and destroyers
GALLANT, GREYHOUND and GRIFFIN and preceded by destroyers FAULKNOR, FORTUNE and
FURY acting as minesweepers, RVed with the Mediterranean Fleet. Force F (the
reinforcements for the Mediterranean Fleet, Operation COAT) entered Valetta
harbour to disembark their troops and supplies and the 3 F destroyers to refuel.

At 1330 hours convoy ME 3, which included Monitor TERROR, sailed from Malta,
escorted by RAMILLIES, COVENTRY, DECOY, DEFENDER and HMAS VENDETTA. After
disembarking their troops and supplies BARHAM, BERWICK, GLASGOW, GALLANT,
GREYHOUND and GRIFFIN sailed from Malta and joined the Mediterranean Fleet
sailing east.

11th - Covered
passage of convoy ME3 from Malta to Alexandria.

At 1310 hours AJAX, ORION, HMAS
SYDNEY, MOHAWK and NUBIAN detached from the Fleet to carry out a raid on Italian
military convoys in the southern Adriatic.

At 1800 hours ILLUSTRIOUS, YORK,
BERWICK, GLASGOW, GLOUCESTER, HASTY, HAVOCK, HYPERION and ILEX detached from the
Fleet to carry out Operation JUDGMENT. (Note: The successful air attack on
Taranto (Operation JUDGMENT) by aircraft from ILLUSTRIOUS during the night of
11/12th November was also covered as part of Operation COAT).

26th - At 0813
hours convoy MW 4 arrived at Malta accompanied by MALAYA and RAMILLIES to
refuel. At 1200 hours sailed from Malta as Force D in company with cruisers
NEWCASTLE and COVENTRY, and destroyers GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, DIAMOND, DEFENDER and
HEREWARD. To join Force H. The ships joined heavy cruiser BERWICK at sea.

27th - During the
night of 26/27, RAMILLIES, BERWICK and NEWCASTLE were attacked by Italian
torpedo bombers. (At 0630 hours a Sunderland of 228 Sqdn. reported a strong
Italian naval force off Cape Spartivento, Sardinia. On receipt of this report
Admiral Somerville decided to wait until Force D joined Force H before taking
offensive action).

At 1130 hours Force D, RAMILLIES, BERWICK and NEWCASTLE
joined Force H. At which point Force H turned north to meet the Italian fleet.

At 1222 hours RAMILLIES open fire on the Italians (Battle of Cape Spativento)
but after a few rounds she ceased fire as the Italians were out of range and she
was too slow to take any further part in the battle.

29th - At 1530
hours arrived at Gibraltar. (For details of Mediterranean Fleet activities in
1940-41 see THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre).

9th - 550 miles
west of Cape St Vincent the Gibraltar group RVed with aircraft carrier FURIOUS
and cruiser DIDO (sailed from Freetown on 2/12/40). Following which VELOX
detached and returned to Gibraltar.

11th - At 1000
hours, 360 miles southwest of Rockall destroyers COSSACK and SIKH joined the
force.

14th - At 1410
hours arrived in the Clyde. Went to Devonport for a refit.

1 9 4 1

January

6th - Sailed from
Plymouth for the Clyde.

11th - Sailed from
the Clyde in company with cruiser PHOEBE, and destroyers CHURCHILL, LINCOLN,
WATCHMAN, FEARLESS, BEAGLE, BRILLIANT and FS LEOPARD and the Clyde portion of
convoy WS5B.

8th - At 1100 hours
in position 52,55N 34W, 900 miles west of Slyne Head Ireland, whilst providing
cover for Convoy HXl06, she sighted the mast and top of a warship. In her report
to the Admiralty she stated that it was possibly a Hipper class cruiser. (At the
time the Admiralty was unaware that the HIPPER was at Brest. In fact RAMILLIES
had sighted the German battlecruiser SCHARNHORST which was in company with the
GNEISENAU. The Germans had sighted the convoy at 1030 hours and closed to
attack, but when the presence of a battleship was identified Admiral Lütjens
called off the German action. They withdrew at high speed to avoid damage in
action with a battleship)

10th - Detached
from HX106 for St Johns.

21st - Joined
convoy HX110 as ocean escort.

March

3rd - Detached from
convoy HX110 for St Johns.

April

3rd - At 1245 hours
360 miles south of St Johns in company with the French submarine SURCOUF, she
joined AMC WOLFE escorting convoy HX118.

9th - Early in the
day she detached from HX118 and drew ahead and at 0600 hours in position 53,30N
37,19W joined AMC SALOPIAN escorting convoy SC27.

At 1400 hours she detached
from SC27 and rejoined HX118 as HX118 was overtaking SC37.

10th - At 0530
hours in position 58,10N 33,57W RAMILLIES and SURCOUF detached from HX118.
RAMILLIES returned to St Johns.

24th - Following
the sinking of the HOOD by the German battleship BISMARCK. The Admiralty ordered
RAMILLIES, which with HX127 was about 900 miles south of the BISMARCK, to detach
from HX127 and steam north towards her position.

At 1212 hours in position
46.25N 35.24W, RAMILLIES detached from HX127

26th - At 1200
hours RAMILLIES who was proceeding at her best speed of 19 knots was ordered to
give up the pursuit of BISMARCK and to search for the troopship BRITANNIC and
escort her to Halifax.

22nd - At Hvalfjord
where she was ordered to raise steam because of a possible breakout by the
German battlecruiser SCHARNHORST. (The SCHARNHORST moved from Brest to La
Pallice) RAMILLIES was stood down.

August

Atlantic deployment
in continuation.

18th - Passage from
Hvalfjord, Iceland to Scapa.

September to November

Atlantic convoy
defence in continuation.

Under refit at
Cammell Laird, Birkenhead. Transferred to Gladstone Dock, Liverpool for
completion of work. On completion of the refit went to Scapa Flow to work up.
Radar fitted for aircraft and surface warning as well as fire control of main
and secondary armament. (See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.) Nominated for service in
East Indies.

December

On completion of
work up, nominated for foreign service as flagship of the second in command of
the new Eastern Fleet.

13th - At 0940
hours, 150 miles north of the Azores they joined destroyers FOXHOUND, GURKHA and
NESTOR and AMC CILICIA escorting military convoy WS14. (Having failed to locate
the convoy the previous day in its expected position).

At 1000 hours destroyers
BADSWORTH and BEAUFORT joined the escort of WS14, and FOXHOUND, GURKHA and
NESTOR detached for Gibraltar.

At 1800 hours 80 miles north of Sao Miguel,
BADSWORTH and BEAUFORT detached from WS14 to refuel at Ponta Delgada.

14th - BADSWORTH
and BEAUFORT rejoined and VANQUISHER detached.

15th - VOLUNTEER
and WITCH detached from WS14.

18th - Destroyers
BRILLIANT and HURWORTH joined convoy WS14.

19th - Destroyers
VANSITTART and WILD SWAN joined the convoy.

21st - At 0700
hours arrived Freetown with WS14. On arrival, Rear Admiral S. S. Bonham-Carter
was ordered to haul down his flag and return to the UK.

4th - At 0900 hours
off the Cape of Good Hope, AMC DERBYSHIRE joined the escort of WS14.

At 1800
hours RAMILLIES, BEAUFORT and HURWORTH detached from WS14

5th - Arrived at
Cape Town.

9th - RAMILLIES and
corvettes HOLLYHOCK and VERBENA sailed from Cape Town escorting the 16
mercantiles of the Cape Town section of convoy WS14.

10th - HOLLYHOCK
and VERBENA detached from WS14.

12th - RAMILLIES
detached from WS14 to carry out a firing exercise and then proceed to Durban to
refuel.

13th - At 1500
hours off Durban, all sections of WS14 re-assembled, escorted by RAMILLIES and
AMC Corfu, after which the convoy split into two sections, and WS14C for Aden
was escorted by RAMILLIES.

20th - Off Mombasa
she detached from WS14 on relief by cruiser COLOMBO. She then went into
Kilindini.

February

21st - Sailed from
Kilindini to join convoy DM3.

22nd - North of the
Comoro Islands she took over the escort of military convoy DM3 (This convoy had
been formed from convoy WS15 following General Wavell’s signal not to send
further reinforcements to Java).

23rd - Destroyer
HMAS NORMAN joined from the Seychelles where she had refuelled. (Note: WS15 was
originally bound for Singapore. Following the fall of Singapore the destination
was changed to Batavia. But with the deteriorating situation in Java the
destination was changed to Colombo).

28th - Detached
from DM3 with NORMAN to refuel at Addu Atoll and returned on 29th

March

2nd - Destination
of convoy changed to Bombay and Colombo. Detached from DM3 and took passage to
Colombo with designated mercantiles.

4th - On arrival at
Colombo detached from DM3 to join ships of East Indies Squadron.

7th - Sailed from
Colombo for Trincomalee. (Vice Admiral Somerville arrived at Colombo at
0800/26/3/42 and assumed command of the Eastern Fleet. His first task was to
evaluate his assets. These he found to be a mixed collection of old and new and
without fleet battle training. His immediate decision was to split his Fleet
into two Forces, a fast force, Force A and a slow force, Force B)

26th - Sailed from
Ceylon in company with battleships RESOLUTION, REVENGE and ROYAL SOVEREIGN,
forming the 3rd Battle Squadron, to carry out tactical and gunnery exercises at
Addu Atoll.

28th - (Somerville
was informed that a Japanese attack against Ceylon was to be expected on or
about 1/4/42. Somerville, now on board his flagship battleship WARSPITE resolved
to take the fleet to sea to meet the threat. All ships of the Eastern Fleet were
therefore ordered to RV to the south of Ceylon)

29th - Sailed from
Addu Atoll in company with battleships RESOLUTION, REVENGE, ROYAL SOVEREIGN and
aircraft carrier INDOMITABLE.

31st - Off the
south coast of Ceylon Force A and B of the Eastern Fleet RVed at 04.40N 81,00E.
RAMILLIES formed part of Force B which also included battleships RESOLUTION,
REVENGE and ROYAL SOVEREIGN, aircraft carrier HERMES, cruisers CALEDON, DRAGON
and Dutch cruiser HNethMS HEEMSKERCK and destroyers ARROW, DECOY, FORTUNE and SCOUT,
HMAS NORMAN and VAMPIRE and the Dutch HNethMS ISAAC SWEERS. The Fleet then
commenced patrolling off the south of Ceylon, sweeping east during the day and
west during the night.

April

2nd - (Late in the
evening, without any sighting of the Japanese being reported and with several of
his fleet requiring replenishment, including the R Class battleships, Somerville
decided to withdraw his fleet to Addu Atoll)

At 2100 hours the
fast group, Force A withdrew first, immediately followed by Force B, less HERMES
and VAMPIRE which went to Trincomalee.

4th - At 1500 hours
as Force B arrived at Addu Atoll. (At 1005 hours a Catalina of 413 Sqdn. located
and reported the Japanese Fleet 360 miles 155° from Dondra Head)

5th - At 0700 hours
Force B sailed from Addu Atoll

6th - At 0700 hours
Force A and B combined. The combined Fleet then set course SE for the estimated
position of the Japanese Fleet.

At 1800 hours course was reversed to the NE.

7th - (In the early
hours the Admiralty signaled Somerville that their policy of discouraging the
Japanese from entering the Indian Ocean in force had failed and they further
realized that the Eastern Fleet was inferior in all respects to the Japanese
Fleet. The R Class battleships were in this respect considered more of a
liability than an asset. Therefore Somerville was given discretion to withdraw
them to Africa). The Fleet then sailed for Addu Atoll by a circuitous route.

8th - The Fleet
arrived back at Addu Atoll. (For details of Indian Ocean operations in 1942 see
OPERATION PACIFIC by E Gray).

9th - Sailed from
Addu Atoll in company with battleships RESOLUTION, REVENGE and ROYAL SOVEREIGN.

14th - Arrived at
Kilindini. Since RAMILLIES had enjoyed a rather easier life than her sisters and
was therefore in better condition, she was nominated to replace MALAYA for
Operation IRONCLAD, an operation to capture the French naval base at Diego
Suarez in Madagascar.

28th - Sailed from
Durban escorting invasion Convoy Z, the fast convoy, in company with ILLUSTRIOUS
and cruiser HERMIONE screened by destroyers LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, LOOKOUT and 3
other destroyers.

May

3rd - The Fast and
Slow convoys joined, and the force was joined by aircraft carrier INDOMITABLE
escorted by destroyers HMAS NIZAM and NORMAN. NIZAM and NORMAN then detached and
returned to the Eastern Fleet that was providing distant cover for Operation
IRONCLAD.

5th - At 0430 hours
the first troop landing took place in Courrier Bay and RAMILLIES provided naval
gunfire support during the landings. Formed part of the landing covering force
which also included ILLUSTRIOUS, INDOMITABLE, HERMIONE and 7 destroyers.

6th - Early in the
morning the attacking force that was moving east towards Antsirane was held up
by Vichy resistance. Following a conference on RAMILLIES, the land commander,
General Sturges asked if it would be possible to land a small force in the
enemy’s rear. The suggestion was quickly acted upon. The destroyer ANTHONY was
called alongside RAMILLIES and 50 Royal Marines from RAMILLIES, under Captain M
Price RM transferred to ANTHONY.

At 1545 hours ANTHONY cast off and proceeded at
high speed around Cape Amber heading for the Oronjia Pass at the entrance to
Diego Suarez harbour. RAMILLIES and her escorting destroyers then set off after
ANTHONY.

7th - At 0800
hours, in the dark, ANTHONY steamed through the Oronjia Pass and at 0850 hours
she landed the Marines on the quay at Antsirane. Their effect on the garrison
was such that the main Army attack from the west was completely successful and
by 1500 hours the Army was able to report the complete occupation of the town.

At 1040 hours off the Oronjia Peninsula RAMILLIES, DEVONSHIRE and HERMIONE in
line ahead, screened by 4 destroyers opened fire on the Vichy defences.

At 1050
hours fire was checked when it was learned that the defences had surrendered.

29th - At 2230
hours a Yokosuka E14Y "Glen" floatplane from the Japanese submarine I-10 on a
reconnaissance mission glided over Diego Suarez harbour and made as if to land
between RAMILLIES and cruiser FROBISHER which was anchored close to RAMILLIES.
Although RAMILLIES had her AA guns manned, she did not open fire because the
aircraft might be French and they might have hit FROBISHER. Just as it appeared
the aircraft was about touch down she opened her throttle and flew out of sight
behind a hill. The whole episode lasted little over a minute. It was assumed
that the aircraft was hostile and had come from an enemy warship. Therefore the
decision was taken to move position. (The aircraft had been launched from the
Japanese submarine I-10 which in company with I-16 and I-20 had arrived off
northern Madagascar earlier in the day. After returning to I-10 and reporting
their findings, Captain Ishizaki ordered a midget submarine attack on RAMILLIES
and FROBISHER for 0230 hours on 31 May )

30th - After
raising steam RAMILLIES and FROBISHER weighed anchor, FROBISHER put to sea and
RAMILLIES steamed around the harbour. An air search to a depth of 200 miles was
carried out which sighted nothing, and RAMILLIES anchored in another position
close to tanker MV BRITISH LOYALTY (6993 tons).

At 1710 hours, about 9 nautical
miles east of Diego Suarez, I-20 launched midget submarine M-20b.

At 2025 hours
M-20b fired one of her two 450mm Type 98 torpedoes with a 350kg warhead at
RAMILLIES. The torpedo hit and holed the bulge and bottom plating, opening a
30-foot by 30-foot hole in the port bulge forward of A turret. The electrical
system was damaged and power lost all over the ship. The six-inch armor belt
above the site of the explosion was displaced and the forward magazines and
shell rooms (15-inch main calibre and 4-inch AA) flooded.

At 2120 hours M-20b
fired her other torpedo at RAMILLIES. But following the first hit on RAMILLIES,
the BRITISH LOYALTY, a motor ship, was able to weigh anchor and start to move
her berth. As she was going astern she was hit by the second torpedo that was
meant for RAMILLIES and seriously damaged. The crew of RAMILLIES worked to
control the flooding, following which she weighed anchor and moved to a narrow
arm of the harbour, and moored with her bows to seaward in order to present the
least possible target to any further attack.

(The crew of the
submarine, Lieutenant Saburo Akieda and Petty Officer Masami Takemoto, beached
their submarine at Nosy Antalikely and proceeded towards a pick-up point near
Cape Amber. They were informed upon when they bought food at a village and both
were killed in a firefight with
Royal Marines
three days later).

(The Japanese
issued a communiqué, claiming that they had sunk a cruiser of the FROBISHER
class and torpedoed a battleship of the QUEEN ELIZABETH class which had been
left sinking. The Admiralty were able to counter this with complete truth, by
saying that no cruiser of the FROBISHER class had been sunk and that no
battleship of the QUEEN ELIZABETH class had been at Diego Suarez)

31st - Work carried
out to lighten the bows by moving anchors and cable aft, shoring up the damaged
bulkheads and counter flooding.

June

1st - Work
continuing to make her seaworthy.

2nd - Destroyer
DECOY arrived at Diego Suarez with Constructor Captain H. S. Pengelly RCNC, the
Eastern Fleet Constructor Officer. Pengelly inspected the work carried out on
RAMILLIES and confirmed she was fit for sea.

Under repair at
Durban. During her stay at Durban her CO, Captain D N C Tufnell DSC RN was
appointed to command battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN and most unusually her second in
command, Commander L N Brownfield took over with the temp. rank of Captain. Ship
to return to UK for refit and completion of repair outstanding.

August

6th - Sailed from
Durban for Cape Town. (When she sailed she was seaworthy, but due to the
extensive internal damage, there was no means of controlling either the 15-inch
or the 6-inch guns. The anti-aircraft armament was operational)

9th - Arrived at
Cape Town

13th - Sailed from
Cape Town for Devonport via Freetown and Gibraltar.

Defence against
aircraft improved, including fit of radar for close weapons.

March

Joined Home Fleet
at Scapa Flow.

April to May

Took part in
preparatory exercises for planned assault landings. Nominated for service in
Eastern Task Force with Bombarding Force D. Target in Pre-arranged Fire Plan -
Benerville Battery. (Operation NEPTUNE - For details of naval activities prior
to and during landings see OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, JUNE 1944 (HMSO).).

June

2nd - At 1900 hours
sailed from Greenock for the Normandy beachhead on Operation NEPTUNE in company
with battleship WARSPITE, Monitor ROBERTS, cruisers MAURITIUS, ARETHUSA,
FROBISHER, DANAE and Polish ORP DRAGON and escorting destroyers. RAMILLIES
sailed with a reduced ships complement so that only two of her four 15 inch
turrets could be manned at any one time. This was designated Bombarding Force S
and was to have sailed directly to their bombarding stations off the beachhead.
However due to bad weather the operation was postponed for 24 hours so they made
for Portsmouth.

4th - Arrived off
Portsmouth.

5th - Passage
through swept channel to Assault area with ships of Force S of the Eastern Task
Force in Convoy S6, escorted by destroyers SAUMAREZ, SWIFT, Norwegian destroyers
HNorMS SVENNER and STORD and Frigates ROWLEY and HOLMES.

6th - At 0530 hours
NE of Sword Beach, approximately 11 miles west of Le Havre (at this time Le
Havre was cut off from the invasion fleet by a smoke screen) RAMILLIES opened
fire on the Benerville Battery at a range of 24000 yards. (The Benerville
battery consisted of 4 x 150mm guns, three in casemates and one in an open pit
open). Almost simultaneously with opening fire, the bombarding force was
attacked by the German 5th Torpedo Boat Flotilla of T28, FALKE, JAGUAR and MÖWE
which fired 18 torpedoes and made off. Torpedoes were seen approaching RAMILLIES
and she turned away from them. They passed between RAMILLIES and WARSPITE,
narrowly missing both, but one went on to hit and sink the Norwegian destroyer
HNoMS SVENNER at 0535 hours. (The 5th TB flotilla had sailed from Le Havre at
0440 hours with orders to attack landing craft that had been sighted off Port en
Bessin. But on breaking through the smoke screen they were confronted by the
bombardment line of battleships, monitor and cruisers. On seeing the
overwhelming force they fired their torpedoes and returned to Le Havre at
speed). After 48 rounds, a hydraulic valve in A turret failed and the gun crew
immediately transferred to B turret. In the evening, ran out of 15 inch
ammunition and sailed for Portsmouth.

7th - At 0830 hours
arrived at Portsmouth to re-ammunition.

At 2030 hours sailed for the beachhead.

8th - Arrived off
the beachhead and anchored near battleship RODNEY and bombarded targets
nominated by army.

10th - Bombarded
targets around Caen.

11th - Bombarded
targets around Caen, including a German armoured concentration of 200 tanks.

12th - Bombarded
targets around Caen, including railway marshalling yards. Carried a bombardment
in support of 6th Airborne Division assault.

15th - Returned to
her D-Day bombardment position and re-engaged the mobile field guns that had
been moved back into the Benerville position.

17th - Further
bombardment of the Benerville position.

18th - After firing
1000 rounds of 15 inch she was withdrawn and returned to Portsmouth.

July

After release from
NEPTUNE prepared for bombardment duties in Mediterranean. Allocated for service
under US Command for support of landings in South France. (Operation DRAGOON -
For details see LANDINGS IN SOUTH FRANCE (HMSO).

August

Passage to
Gibraltar

11th - Arrived at
Algiers to join ALPHA Gunfire Support Group in Task Force 84. (Note: The Group
had already sailed for Malta and programme rearranged).

HMS RAMILLIES continued service in the training
role until being placed on the Disposal List. This battleship was sold on 20th
February 1948 for breaking-up. She arrived in tow at Cairn Ryan on 23rd April
that year for de-equipping and transferred to Troon for demolition during
October 1948.